Kolkata, 25 July (H.S.): The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the student wing of the Trinamool Congress, has moved the Calcutta High Court after Kolkata Police denied permission for its proposed rally against the alleged NEET question paper leak and corruption in the education sector. A special bench of the High Court has been constituted on Saturday, despite the court holiday, to hear the matter.

According to TMCP, it had applied to Kolkata Police on July 23 seeking permission to hold the rally from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. The proposed march was scheduled to proceed from Padmapukur via CIT Road to Moulali crossing. After the police refused permission, the organisation approached the High Court seeking urgent intervention.

The petition has been listed before the special bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, with the hearing scheduled for around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. The court is expected to decide whether the proposed rally can be allowed.

The development comes a day after multiple student organisations staged protests in Kolkata over the alleged NEET paper leak, alleged irregularities in the education sector and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Friday's demonstration at Dharmatala witnessed violence, with allegations of attacks on police personnel and media professionals.

Following the clashes, Kolkata Police registered seven FIRs in connection with the incident. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari informed the Assembly that provisions of the recently enacted Public Safety Act had been invoked in the cases. He said police had identified 70 persons allegedly involved in the violence, claiming they had no connection with the student movement or the NEET protest, and warned of stringent legal action against them.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh